Key Passage: Nehemiah 4: 1 - 4, 6

But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish—stones that are burned?” Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, "Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall.” Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity! So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

The kingdom of darkness is ready to do all in its power to oppose and frustrate every work that is inspired by God. Nehemiah was on a mission to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. He had received the King’s authority to rebuild the wall, done the preparatory work and gotten the support of the Jewish returnees. It was as if everything was set and the work had begun in earnest. Then, the enemy arose to oppose them. Sanballat came with rage, mockery and threats, and brought others into the plot against the Jews. Their main design was to ridicule and discourage them and frustrate them in the work. But Nehemiah would not be deterred. He stayed focused on his mission and kept the building project alive. He backed his endeavor with constant prayers and kept the people motivated and united in the work. He succeeded against all odds.

The devil knows that if he can get your eyes off your vision, he will frustrate your dreams. He will attack you from every front, and stir people to scandalize, threaten, intimidate and oppose you. But you must not give in. You should rather determine to stay focused on your mission in spite of the distractions and oppositions. You must also persist in prayer to throw off spiritual confrontations and receive the grace to overcome.

Jesus was opposed by the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the Scribes, who were the religious elites of his time. They accused him of wrong teachings and of breaking the religious laws. They despised his ministry and labeled him, “demon possessed”. Yet, he stayed focused of his mission to preach the Gospel and heal the oppressed.

Paul said, “We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Cor 4:8-9). The triumphant Christian is tested and proven. It is the story at the end of our battles that reveal our strength in Christ.

Pray:Lord, help me to stay strong and focused even when the odds are against me; help me stand out and be successful in my endeavors.

 

Written by – Evangelist Oguazi Onyemobi